Behind The Bottle Q & A: Mair Emenogu on MAIR Peony Silk +WORLDWIDE Draw

 

Mair Emenogu 2021 MAIR PEONY Silk

Mair Emenogu and MAIR PEONY SILK

I met Mair Emenogu at Sniffapalooza’s Spring Fling 2017 where she spoke at the Sunday luncheon as part of the EAU (Emerging Artisans Uncorked) showcase. Mair spoke about her nascent brand and her debut fragrance Remember When which was reviewed by former Sr. Contributor, Tammy Schuster here. Mair was born and raised in Houston where her brand is also based. Sadly, there is no fragrance community or scene in Houston so let’s hope Mair can be the inspiration for one.

Mair Emenogu of MAIR Fragrances

Mair Emenogu of MAIR Fragrances at Sniffapalozza’s Spring Fling Sunday, April 30th, 2017 

 

Hernando Courtright: Tell us how you chose to name the brand MAIR.

Mair Emenogu: The last thing I wanted to do was name my fragrance brand after myself. If it failed I didn’t want the attachment I had to my brand to psychologically affect me every time I would hear my name. A friend of mine called me after hearing the original name and strongly encouraged me to go with my first name.

H.C.: Prior to launching your fragrance line what was your background and how did you segue into fragrance?

Mair Emenogu:  My background is in corporate marketing, writing & communications. I’ve worked in oil & gas, housing, and the tech industry. I got into fragrance in an unconventional way, a former boss saw my signature and told me he could see my signature on a perfume bottle. At the moment, nothing shifted but I kept hitting dead ends in my career, I could feel the tug of entrepreneurship but kept avoiding it until the pull was too strong to ignore. Three years after he told me, I launched my perfume company.

H.C: What are your favorite notes? 

Mair Emenogu: Jasmine, Leather & Warm Musk. I have many more, but Jasmine is my number one go-to. It’s in both of my fragrances.  I normally start creating my scents with Jasmine first.

MAIR Peony Silk

H.C: Your fondness for roses, where is that coming from?

Mair Emenogu: The best gift you can give a girl is a dozen roses. I remember when I received my first bouquet of roses and the first thing I did was smell it. At that moment I felt loved, cared about, and important. It stems from the effect it had on me.

H.C: Tell us about the newest release Peony Silk.

Mair Emenogu: Peony Silk is a floral woody fragrance that’s very flirty and romantic. I think the misconception people have about florals is that they smell like your grandmother. This scent is the opposite, it’s very bright, youthful, and happy.

H.C:  How did you come up with the name Peony Silk?

Mair Emenogu: The name was truly inspired by my favorite flower and its most notable feature. I knew right off the bat this scent was going to be floral and that the dominant note would be the peony flower. When you touch peonies they are very soft and delicate and have a very smooth feel, like silk.

H.C.: Is MAIR Peony Silk a natural or synthetic fragrance?

Mair Emenogu: It’s a combination of both natural and synthetic notes.

H.C.: How long did it take to create Peony Silk?

Mair Emenogu: It didn’t take me long to create the juice of Peony Silk. We were done with it in 6 months.

MAIR Peony Silk and Remember When

MAIR Peony Silk and Remember When 

H.C. Your first scent, Remember When was inspired by your travel adventures. What is the inspiration behind Peony Silk?

Mair Emenogu: The inspiration came from my mother who used to wear floral woods and my elementary school teachers, strong florals. But MAIR Peony Silk was largely inspired by my favorite flower, the pink peony. I wanted to create something that was personal, but also delicate. I intentionally (maybe even selfishly) want a piece of me in everything I release and it was no different when creating this scent. The smell of one of my favorite eclectic furniture stores smells like peonies and I also wanted to capture that in this fragrance.

H.C.: Remember When was signed by perfumer Frederic Cohen and for Peony Silk, you worked with Florie Tanquerel. How did you choose to work with them?

Mair Emenogu:  I like using different noses for my scent projects. In both projects, my production team made the introductions.

H.C.: Who  did you create MAIR Peony Silk for and how do you want them to feel when they spray this fragrance?  

Mair Emenogu: For the fragrance junkie and anyone who is a lover of floral scents you’re REALLY going to love how the fruits seamlessly blend with the rose and peonies. It’s not too florally nor is it too sweet. I have always adored old Hollywood & the glamour, pomp, and circumstance of that era. I try to capture that in my branding by giving it a modern-classic look and feel- and also in my fragrances. To me, Peony Silk is synonymous with a floral bouquet. When someone gives you flowers how do you feel? You feel happy, you feel seen, appreciated, and empowered. That is how I want the person wearing it to feel.

H.C.: Can you share if you are working on a new scent? Notes? Release date?

Mair Emenogu: Yes, this one will be an aquatic scent. The notes (which can change) I’m working with include jasmine, cardamom, orchids, iris, iris wood, and musk. The release date is TBD.

MAIR Peony Silk Notes- Top: Orange Blossom, Pear, and Melon; Heart: Pink Peony, Rose, and Jasmine Sambac; Base: Patchouli, Cashmere Wood, and Musk

MAIR fragrances can be purchased through her website mairfragrance.com, on Macy’s website, The Hilton Hotel of America’s Gift Shop, and in downtown Philadelphia at Perfumology. If you’re in the Houston area you can purchase in person at her headquarters in the Downtown area:440 Louisiana Suite 811.

 Hernando Courtright ~ Senior Events Contributor and Brand Ambassador

All Photos are courtesy of MAIR except where credited otherwise and cannot be reproduced without permission.

MAIR Peony Silk 

Thanks to the generosity of MAIR we have a draw for a 100 ml EdP of Peony Silk. We have a worldwide draw for one registered reader. You must register here. To be eligible please leave a comment on what you enjoyed about Hernando’s interview with Mair Emenogu and MAIR Peony Silk, where you live. Draw closes 12/21/2021.

PLEASE READ MAIR’S PROFILE IN AMERICAN PERFUMERY, THE 96TH IN  THE SERIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER PATH TO PERFUMERY HERE

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28 comments

  • Kevin Pedrazs says:

    Mair´s hard work surely will be recognized. Got me very hook with this interview and how she came up with Peony Silk, as peony being her favorite flower. Would love to try it. Wish you all the luck in the world, Mair! I am in the U.S. btw, I like CaFleureBon Behind the Bottle on Facebook.

  • Sorohan Adriana says:

    Peony perfumes are feminine and full of elegance so I want to try it. I am from EU Bucharest Romania Europe

  • rafal321 says:

    I like how motivation to create a unique fragrance can stem from such simple thing as something that former boss said. It really looks good on the bottle! I live in Poland.

  • Jurate says:

    Thank you Hernando for an interview, was really interesting to read what’s the story behind this perfume and how it all started. I do enjoy floral fragrances and this sounds really lovely. Seems like the scent which is just makes you happy when you are wearing it.
    Many thanks, Dubai, UAE

  • Amaziz89 says:

    MAIR Peony Silk Notes- Top: Orange Blossom, Pear, and Melon; Heart: Pink Peony, Rose, and Jasmine Sambac; Base: Patchouli, Cashmere Wood, and Musk. I am intrigued by the notes especially Patchouli, Rose and Jasmine Sambac. I loved how Mair’s passion and love of fragrance got her where she is now. I encourage everybody to check out her website and support her because she deserves everything she gets. This is a house that I need to explore further. I have liked CaFleureBon behind the bottle on Facebook. Thanks a million from the United Kingdom

  • Ozzyaziz says:

    inspiration came from my mother who used to wear floral woods and my elementary school teachers, strong florals. But MAIR Peony Silk was largely inspired by my favorite flower, the pink peony. I wanted to create something that was personal, but also delicate. I intentionally (maybe even selfishly) want a piece of me in everything I release and it was no different when creating this scent. The smell of one of my favorite eclectic furniture stores smells like peonies and I also wanted to capture that in this fragrance. A beautiful description by Mair captured so eloquently in a bottle. I hope Mair is an inspiration to every budding perfumer in Houston and worldwide. Her passion is infectious and radiates through her love of notes and the inspiration behind creating perfume. I wish her all the best in her future endeavours and this is a house that I am planning to explore further. Thanks a lot from the UK

  • Teresa says:

    I appreciate Mair’s youthful enthusiasm and it makes me feel enthusiastic about trying her scents. Her attitude is ‘you’re going to love this!’ and it’s contagious! I love the color of the juice and the bottle design. I am in the US.

  • Jon Snow says:

    This sounds beautiful and so true peony is like silk petals, it does sound like a beautifully made fragrance and there’s nothing quite like that smell of pink

  • Miragaia says:

    I like how Mair described how she wants people to feel happy, you and seen, appreciated and empowered when they spray Peony Silk. I live in Poland, EU.

  • wandering_nose says:

    Thank you Hernando for this interview – from having never heard of MAIR I moved to a point of feeling I would love to meet this amazing lady in person as I feel we would get on really well. I agree with Mair that the misconception associating florals with grandmothers is wrong and unjust. And on top of that she managed to make Peony Silk appear extremely youthful, romantic and radiant, and all that just by looking at the bottle! Fair dues. I would not be surprised if a good few brides-to-be thought: I want THIS to be my wedding day perfume! The modern-classic branding makes it simply irresistible. I love how after her impressive career shift, Mair makes sure that every single one of her creations has a piece of her, her very own blueprint. Also, her sentiment to make the wearer feel seen, appreciated and empowered sounds very personal and thoroughly wonderful. Thank you from the Republic of Ireland, EU

  • drjedi says:

    I enjoyed reading about Mair’s journey from corporate America to perfumery in Hernando’s interview with her. It’s true the name Houston doesn’t pop in one’s head when thinking of perfumes, and Houston is known more for NASA and for its oil-based corporations. MAIR Peony Silk seems to be elegant and beautiful, just like it’s name. Thanks for the interview and draw. From USA.

  • GennyLeigh says:

    Peony is such a lovely, feminine scent. It reminds me of happiness, innocence and pink. I love hearing about young perfumers and their inspirations. It seems like Mair has found her passion and I wish her well! I like behind the bottle on FB. I’m in MD, USA.

  • sephrenia300 says:

    Fascinating interview Hernado! What I enjoyed about Hernando’s interview with Mair Emenogu and MAIR Peony Silk is learning that the inspiration for the fragrance came from a combination of her mother who wore floral woods and her personal favorite flower, the pink peony – a perfect integration of past and present scent memory. It sounds like an absolutely lovely combination. I live in the US.

  • Bryant Worley says:

    What I enjoyed about Hernando’s interview was that he had a natural order to his questions, which allowed her to be quite relaxed, honest, and free-flowing with her responses (which was necessary for us to get to know her, her fragrances, and her passion). As for Peony Silk, I like fragrances with Jasmine, and that, along with the other well-blended notes, should make for a good ‘wear’, especially from the heart to the base.

    I live in Waldorf, Maryland, USA.

  • Starlit12 says:

    What a lovely lady and a delightful read. I hadn’t heard of this perfumer before. I enjoyed reading about her past and how she decided to delve into perfumery, about her favorite notes and her plans for the future.
    I live in Europe.

  • Diana D says:

    This sounds so lovely! I adore floral fragrances that have peony as a dominant note. It’s such a feminine, powdery floral note. I’d never heard of this perfume house before reading this article. I will explore this line and look forward to hearing about the launch of newest aquatic creation.

    I live in the US.

  • xoe says:

    I loved learning about what notes Mair loves, and what she’s working on. Peony is one of my very favorite notes, but rarely have I detected it in perfumes, so this is very interesting to me. I am in the US

  • LovelyMouse says:

    It was interesting to read Hernando’s interview with Mair Emenogu, as I have never heard of such brand before. By the way, I do not agree that flowers, especially peonies, smell like a grandmother. For me, it is a more youthful flower than a rose, for example, so to speak. I really liked that Mair came to perfumery from a completely different industry, however, the fact that she was engaged in writing once again confirms that many creative people find themselves in the perfumery craft. I would love to try this perfume, because there are very few naturalistically rendered peony notes on the market, as this is a pretty tricky note to convey.
    From UK

  • Anna H says:

    I love Hernando’s question of who this fragrance is made for, as well as Mair’s response as the feeling one gets when they receive flowers. In my late teens and early twenties I often wore Nest’s Dahlia and Vines which has is a lovely peony+rose combo. It would be interesting to see how this fragrance compared, especially with its combination of more fruity, creamy notes. I have already liked CaFleureBon Behind the Bottle on Facebook. Thanks so much for the draw and introduction to a brand that is new to me!
    USA

  • INYA says:

    Loved this article! Growing peonies in my garden, my favorite time of the year is spring when they’re all in bloom. I am interested in this fabulous fragrance. Thanks for the opportunity. Mich USA

  • Erika* says:

    Enjoyed Hernando’s interview and learning about the inspiration behind the fragrance. I love how Mair Emenogu’s inspiration came from her mother who used to wear floral woods and her elementary school teachers, strong florals. How she wanted to create something personal and the feeling of happiness, being seen, appreciated and empowered. My three favorite floral notes are in MAIR Peony Silk and I know I will love the combination of the fruits with the rose and peonies. I Like CaFleureBon Behind the Bottle on Facebook. Thank you for the draw, from USA.

  • Michael Prince says:

    What I enjoyed about Hernando’s interview with Mair Emenogu and MAIR Peony Silk is learning about how Mair Emenogu came on the scene at 2017 Sniffapalooza’a Spring Fling as well as learning about her brand coming from Houston, Texas and the fragrances she has created. Peony Silk sounds like a delicate floral that is also modern, bright, fresh, and uplifting. I am from the USA.

  • dapazin says:

    Loved the interview, it’s always a treat to read insights from an industry insider. Peony silk seems right up my alley – floral, sweet! Love it! I live in Croatia, EU.

  • moshe says:

    I really like how she was inspired by a forniture store. Peony is one of the favorite flowers of my wife. A few years ago I gifted her a peony fragrance from Jo Malone.
    Her birthday will be next month, so if I win I will have the perfect gift for her. I’m sure she will love it.
    Kind regards from Mexico.

  • gracet07 says:

    This interview with Mair is really intriguing! It’s amazing that she could’ve completely switched careers from marketing to perfumery! It’s inspirational. Creating scents and perfume lines seems so unattainable, but Mair’s story of segueing into the fragrance world makes the industry seem far more accessible, like the barriers to become a perfumer aren’t actually so high. I also really enjoy her inspiration for Peony Silk; receiving a bouquet of flowers makes anyone feel particularly special, and a perfume that evokes that emotion sounds really lovely. The blend of jasmine and peony with citrus and melon fruits as well as base note of patchouli sound as if they would be lovely on the skin! Thank you so much, from USA.